The Tiffin University baseball team saw their third game with Northwood University slip through their fingers on Friday afternoon, as Tiffin allowed three runs in the top of the 9th to fall 12-10. Prior to the final frame, Tiffin's bullpen held the Timberwolves in check, allowing only one earned run over 4 2/3 innings of work.
Both sides brought the bats on Friday, as the Timberwolves opened the game with a walk and a two run home run to center field, and plated one more run to hold a 3-0 lead after a half inning of play.
The Dragons doubled up Northwood in their half of the opening frame, scoring six runs on four hits and an error. Singles by Brayden Callihan and Zach Campbell put runners on the corners with nobody out. Alec McCurry slapped a single to right to plate Callihan and make it 6-1. A passed ball enabled Tiffin to score their next run, and Kyle Vance plated a pair with a single to pull Tiffin within two at 6-4. Cody Orr then reached on an error, scoring two more runs to give Tiffin a 6-3 lead.
The Timberwolves wasted little time, tying the score with three runs in their half of the 2nd. Northwood then added two more runs in the 3rd to hold an 8-6 advantage.
In the 4th inning the Dragons pulled to within a run, using Zach Campbell's sacrifice fly to make it an 8-7 game. Tiffin kept the bats hot in the 5th, as back-to-back doubles by Ryan Thomas and John Heckman pulled the score all even at 8-8. Kyle Vance then gave Tiffin the lead with a run scoring single to center field that plated Heckman, and pushed TU ahead 9-8. In the 6th, Ryan Thomas gave Tiffin an insurance run with a run scoring ground out to push the Dragons' lead to 10-8.
Northwood's offense slowly awoke from their middle innings slumber, cracking a solo home run in the 7th to pull the score to 10-9.
The top of the 9th was eventful to say the least, as Northwood put two runners on with one out. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, but a strikeout looking put Tiffin just one out away from a win. Following a Northwood ejection, it all came unraveled for Tiffin. Another passed ball enabled Northwood to tie the score, and a single to center field, followed by an error gave Northwood two more runs, and a 12-10 lead.
Tiffin went quietly in their half of the 9th, going down in order.
Deylen Miley took the loss in relief for Tiffin. At the plate Zach Campbell led the way with two hits, two runs scored, and a run batted in. Alec McCurry finished 2 for 5 with a run batted in, and Kyle Vance was 2 for 5 with three runs batted in.
The Dragons fall to 9-16 overall and 3-8 in the GLIAC. Tiffin will finish their four game set with Northwood tomorrow with first pitch at 1:00 p.m.